Social affairs minister Henk Kamp made a passionate plea to parliament on Thursday to vote through the pension deal agreed with employers and unions, according to press reports.

Kamp told parliament that after two years of negotiations, it was now time for the deal to be made. ‘With the greying of the population and the uncertain financial situation, this is not the time to cave in,’ he said.
The pension reforms pave the way for an increase in the state pension age from 65 to at least 66. People will still be able to stop work at 65 but will get a smaller pension. It also envisages corporate pensions being made more dependent on stock exchange movements.
Earlier this week, the FNV trade union federation failed to reach agreement on the plans after 16 hours of talks.
Following that meeting, Kamp said he would be prepared to soften the reforms by making it easier for people to save money to offset the cut in state pension for people retiring at 65.
The government needs opposition support to get the reforms through parliament because alliance partner PVV is against the plans.
So far none of the opposition parties is impressed with what Kamp has to say, with the left-wing liberal D66 asking the minister why he wants a decision now when the deal with employers and unions still has to be agreed.